I was looking for something different this winter to cover my 1979 Hunter 30 on the hard at Tolchester Marina, across the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore, Md.
I hit on the idea of channel lock which is used in the greenhouse industry to anchor poly over greenhouses. The cost is about $9.00 per six foot section. Available from Griffin Greenhouse Supplies in the North-East but also available from BWI in the South, and BFG in the Mid-West. The channel is aluminum and the wiggle wire to go in the channel is stainless steel.

greenhouse wire lock

I used a piece of AT Plastic greenhouse film
006 mil clear. This comes in various widths 20- 24-28 and usually in lengths of 100. Roll cost is about $100-$150 depending on width. You are buying about 5 years on a roll because of length. Save what you do not cut off on the cardboard tube as this is what you will use for future seasons.

you also need greenhouse film

the cut-outs on my rub rail gave me the idea that this would work.

rub rail

I marked each wire lock channel as I bolted in place. I pre-drilled these at home prior to the job. Dont do this- none of the holes matched.

mark the wire lock

I drilled with brand new 1/4 bit as I held this to the rub rail. Channel lock fit was excellent and looked custom formed for the job. Drilled 4 holes about 1 1/2 foot apart. Attached with 1 1/2 #10 screw, large fender washer on inboard side with nut, thightened finger-tight. Purchased bolts, nuts and fender washers at Lowes- cost about $30.00 but I purchased too many. The channel lock conformed to the rail as the bolts were tightened.

hold in place and drill

I pulled greenhouse film over boom and spinnaker pole that I attached to mast and tied to anchor cleat. I dropped the boom as low as I could to reduce the wind profile and give tent sloping profile. I should have started this earlier in the day but the boat had just gone on the hard and I needed to winterize the systems. The wind was kicking so this added to my problems. Pick a day with very little wind.

finished

I also cut the poly for the standing rigging and then used poly-patch greenhouse tape 4 wide to mend the poly after I cut around the rigging and the mast.

another shot

I should of taken some time to trim with a sharp knife the excess poly under the channel lock, but by this time I did not care how it looked. It was windy and cold standing on the ladder.

end of day-

Packed up in the dark and went home
2hr drive North up Rt 95.
end of story.
I will let you know how this holds up this winter.
I got a little tired of having the blue tarp rip and blow off in past years and I am to cheap to buy a canvas cover.

Ian

final shot